The rules on laying on of hands based on scripture and tradition

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The Rules on laying on of Hands based on Scripture & Tradition by Jesse Romero M.A. Sacred Scripture is the written portion of the Word of God, I personally plowed through every verse of Scripture (for my own benefit) from Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, it took about 2 weeks in the evening and I discovered that there is NOT ONE verse that gives or shows lay people laying their right hands over other lay people and driving out demons. This practice has no basis in Sacred Scripture. You will find fathers blessing their sons by praying over them and laying their hands on them, outside of the family structure you find no practice like that in Sacred Scripture. Evidence #1 From: Unger’s Bible Dictionary: HANDS, LAYING ON OF. This occurs in Scripture as a patriarchal usage, as with Jacob’s laying his hands upon the heads of Joseph’s children (Gen. 48:14). It also occurs in later times, as when Jesus placed His hands upon children presented to Him for His blessing (Matt. 19:15). The laying on of hands formed part of the ceremony observed at the appointment and consecration of persons, such as of Joshua by Moses (Num. 27:18–23; Deut. 34:9). It sometimes attended the healing of persons by a prophet, although in one instance (2 Kings 4:34) Elisha placed his hands upon the hands of the child. In the gospel age the action was, undoubtedly, used in connection with the bestowal of supernatural gifts, or the miraculous effects of the Holy Spirit (Mark 5:23, 41; 7:32), although our Lord extended His hands over the apostles when blessing them at the Mount of Olives (Luke 24:50). The apostles laid their hands upon the sick and healed them (Matt. 9:18; Mark 6:5, 13, etc.), and at times also laid their hands upon the baptized, that they might receive the special gifts of the Spirit (Acts 8:15–18; 19:6). A quite natural extension of this practice was to apply it to those who were set apart to the sacred office in the church—the men already possessed of delegated power and authority proceeding, like Moses in respect to Joshua, to put some of their own honor upon those chosen to the same responsible and dignified position (14:3; 1 Tim. 4:14). “Not that the mere act could confer any special spiritual power, but it was employed as a fit and appropriate symbol to denote their full and formal consent to the bestowal of the divine gift; and, being accompanied by prayer to Him who alone can really bestow it, might ordinarily be regarded as a sign that the communication had actually taken place.” (Ungers Bible Dictionary) Ecclesiastical Uses. In the rites of the early church the laying on

of hands was used in confirmation, which generally was an accompaniment of baptism and symbolized the reception of the Holy Spirit. It was also practiced in ordination (which see). In the modern church Roman Catholics use the laying on of hands in the ceremonies that precede extreme unction, in ordination, and in confirmation (in both of which services it has received a sacramental efficacy). In the mass, previous to the consecration of the elements, the priest extends his hands over the people in blessing. The Church of England and the Protestant Episcopal churches employ it as a symbolical act in baptism and confirmation. The Methodist, the Presbyterian, and the Congregational churches employ it only in ordination. Evidence #2 In addition go to the online Catholic Encyclopedia (newadvent.org), the article is called “Imposition of Hands” and you will find out that what I am saying is true, the ‘laying on of hands’ is a Priestly action or an action from an Israelite father to his son. Evidence #3 Dr Scott Hahn in his Catholic Bible Dictionary says the same thing about “laying on of hands.” You will find Religious Leaders in both the Old & New Testament along with fathers of a family praying over someone under their authority as the raise their right hand in prayer. This custom from scripture carries into tradition and the practice of the Church. *Lay people laying their hands on the heads of other lay people has no basis in Sacred Scripture or Sacred Tradition. This is the action of a Priest or of a father over his domestic church, you open yourself to diabolic retaliation by stepping outside your lane of authority. Acts 19:14 – shows us an example of demonic retaliation. The 7 sons of Sceva began performing an exorcism in ‘Jesus name’, they were not disciples of Our Lord, they just wanted to test if there was power to drive out demons ‘in Jesus name.’ They got attacked and beat up. Why? They had no authority by natural law or divine positive law over this possessed person. This is a classic case of retaliation that serves as a warning to the rest of us. Dr Dan Schneider (Steubenville Professor; Best Selling spiritual warfare author ‘Liber Christo Field Manual’ TAN) “Demons try to get us to disregard the rules of engagement when it comes to spiritual warfare.”

Fr Stephen Rossetti (Exorcist Washington DC): There are many potential benefits and abundant graces that result from such healing prayers. One place to tread lightly is in regards to Key # 4 - Authority and the "word of command." As lay Christians it is inappropriate to lay hands on another with the intent to command demons to be cast out. Catholic exorcists agree - to do such a thing is inviting trouble since they do not have the requisite spiritual authority. It is important for those in this ministry to be aware of the “chain of command” and to stick to it with a holy attentiveness. The laity do not have authority over anyone other than themselves, their spouses and children. The enemy is legalistic and can wreak havoc in those places where holy boundaries are overstepped. We recommend that the laity not engage or address demons directly, but rather encourage souls, in courage and clarity, to unearth and name their woundedness aloud, beseeching the Lord to take away their misery and to be freed. Another important point to make is that once the woundedness has been named and spirits have been cast to the foot of the cross, an infilling of the power of the Holy Spirit, mercy of Christ, and Fathers love is essential. When our focus rests disproportionately on the workings of the enemy of our souls, rather than on claiming the promise and freedom of Christ Jesus, we again have a disordered and potentially risky perspective at play. When we prayerfully call upon and invite in the light of Our Triune God, to push back all darkness and take up residence, we are being obedient to the teaching of Jesus. We not only empty, sweep clean, and put in order, but invite our Lord to dwell within, filling us with hope, peace, joy & faith to name a few, lest “it goes and brings back with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they move in and dwell there; and the last condition of that person is worse than the first.” MT 12:45. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS | St. Michael Center (catholicexorcism.org) Ananias lays hands on Saul of Tarsus What about Ananias, he was a lay person that laid his hands over Saul of Tarsus (another lay person) and healed his blindness. Acts 9:10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Anani'as. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Anani'as." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." [11] And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is praying, [12] and he has seen a man named Anani'as come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." [13] But Anani'as answered, "Lord, I

have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; [14] and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name." [15] But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites...” Ananias was a Bishop in the Church of Damascus - https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2022/10/01/102825-apostle-ananias-of-the- seventy and one of the seventy disciples and a prophet sent to preach (Luke 10:1- 24); https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ananias_of_Damascus; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sev enty_disciples. So he has the authority directly from Christ as a Bishop and a Prophet, Saul of Tarsus authority comes from the corrupt chief priest. Ergo, Ananias has authority over Saul. In fact, Ananias has the highest level of authority because he was commanded to pray over Saul directly by Jesus Christ. Saul of Tarsus was not yet St Paul the Apostle, at this stage of his healing he was subordinate to Bishop Ananias. Jesus gave them jurisdictional authority over evil spirits as part of the threefold munera (‘munus’ means duty, office) of the ordained priesthood which is to teach, exorcise and heal: “He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal [the sick]” (Lk 9:1). Likewise, when He sent out “seventy-two” with the same mission of evangelization, they returned with joy saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name” (Lk 10:17). According to Saint Hippolytus of Rome, who was born within a generation of the death of Saint John the Evangelist, these seventy-two men were all made bishops of nascent (newly born) churches in first-century Christianity. In addition, in Catholic doctrine this means that Christ gave authority to the apostles when He sent them forth with His power and authority (book: Liber Christo Field Manual for Spiritual Combat; p.226). Charismatics Catholics are in error to assert that if a particular liturgical practice is not prohibited it is proscribed. To use this argument by way of analogy, just because the rubrics of the Catholic Mass do not prohibit you from doing jumping jacks or push ups during the consecration - then it is allowed. This premise is false, so the conclusion is false. Another error from charismatics is that there is not a magisterial prohibition against the laity for laying your hands in prayer over another person’s head. In sacred scripture, we never see the practice of a lay person praying over another lay person and laying hands on their head. We also defer to the received tradition of the Church and the liturgical norms and customs. ad